i walked miles just to see you disappear from the runway again. an ocean at my feet and warm, cracked concrete to see you home safely to six flights of stairs playing catch with my breath. every time i close my eyes i feel the inside of your skin. clenched between our teeth and smoking each other down to the filter. with hearts like clocks counting down to departure, a smoothe steady pace and a sweeping second hand, i replay it over and over again.

hours afterwards we wrote names on little pieces of paper and threw them in a hat. mixed em around and picked one out. this will be the final order.